Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to JK Rowlings Harry Potter Series in any way whatsoever. This is a fanfiction based off the story. Please don't sue me.

The train was crowded and stuffy. Despite the fact that I wanted to be no-where else but Hogwarts right now, I knew this train ride was going to be nuts.

Mrs. Bailey told me that I was going to make a lot of friends, but it didn't seem that way. Everyone was laughing with each other and ignoring my presence, all wrapped up in their own worlds. No, I don't think many friends are going to pop up here. Still, this is much better that the orphanage.

Anything was better than the orphanage.

I wasn't always living there. I use to be with my Mom, the good old days. We traveled all over England together in the RV, seeing new faces and places, always with each other. I miss her a lot.

No, she isn't dead, as far as I know.

Mom and I were in London, sitting outside eating lunch. She told me that she loved me three times. I don't remember much else that we talked about. When we were finished our sandwiches, she took my trash and handed me a letter. She asked me to take it inside the orphanage across the street, and give it to the first lady I see. This seemed fairly normal to me, since Mom sent me on random errands all the time. I quickly ran up the stairs and opened the big heavy doors. It took me a while, but I eventually found someone. I handed her the letter, waited for her to open it, and then I walked outside to meet up with Mom. She was gone. I looked up and down the street and didn't see her anywhere. I ran around the corner where the RV was parked, and it was gone too. The woman, whom I later would call Mrs. Bailey, found me and took me inside the orphanage. She told me Mom was going on a journey without me, and I was to stay there until she came back.

That was two years ago.

Mom would send the occasional package with a trinket or souvenir, but no letters. I threw most of the items away. I was so angry. I didn't understand why she would leave somewhere without me. We would travel all the time together, visiting lots of places and lots of people, why would she do this now? It made no sense, and I wasn't ready to understand.

I'm not mad anymore. Now I'm just worried. I want her to be okay.

The last package I got from her was a few weeks ago, soon after I got my acceptance letter to Hogwarts. It was a tiny box, and inside was a locket, her Gringotts key, and a slip of paper with writing on it. With high hopes I took the note, but it only had 5 words on it.

Enjoy Hogwarts. I love you.

The locket had an engraving of a Hippogriff on the front, and inside was a picture of Mom. I put the slip of paper inside the locket, and the locket around my neck.

I haven't taken it off since.

Mrs. Bailey, being a squib, was able to take me to Diagon Ally and get my things for Hogwarts. She also brought me to the train station, and was waving outside with the other parents. I faked a smile, waved back, and went further into the train until I found an empty cart. I took a seat by the window and tucked my locket into my shirt. I couldn't wait for Hogwarts.

There was a gentle knock at the door, and it slid open. A slightly round boy poked his head inside.

"Umm, uhh," He mumbled. "May, um, may I sit here? Everywhere else is, well, full and…"

"Sure," I nodded. "Have a seat."

The boy shuffled inside and shut the door. He took something out of his pocket. When he placed it on his lap, I saw it was a toad.

"What's your name?" I asked as nicely as I could.

"Um, Neville, Neville Longbottom." He looked up for a moment, then back down at his toad. "This is Trevor, just got him yesterday."

"He's cute." I smiled a little. "I'm Attserk Clemens."

I thought I saw him return the smile a little and relax his shoulders a bit.

We made small talk as the train pulled out. We talked a little bit about being first years at Hogwarts, where we were from, all of that.

"I would have loved to travel," Neville sighed. "I'm stuck at home with my gram all the time."

"I wish I was back out there, but, Hogwarts is better than anything."

Neville jerked his head as the door slid open again. A girl with sandy blonde hair poked her head inside.

"Oh! A seat! Um, do you guys mind? I have been trying to find a seat for the past fifteen minutes."

Neville refused to say anything, so I told her to come in. She picked the seat next to me.

"Why isn't your toad in a cage?" her eyes wandered the room a bit, as if to look for it.

"Umm," Neville thought for a moment. "Packed away. He fits in my pocket, so…"

"I see. Well, at least toads are harmless. I'm Hermione Granger."

She stuck her hand out to Neville. Hesitant, he tried to lean forward and shake, but Trevor hopped off of his lap startled, and then out the slightly ajar door.

"No! Trevor!" Neville pushed the door open, looked up and down the hall, then dashed out.

"We might want to help him," I said, standing up. Hermione followed suit.

We stuck our heads out and saw Neville walking down the hall, looking and calling for his toad.

"You go and follow him," Hermione pointed. "I'll go this way and see if I find him."

Before I could object to her bossing me around, she was already walking away. I just shook my head and followed after Neville, searching the floor.